Watchdog concerned about treatment of terminally-ill inmate

FAILURE TO APPLY FOR EARLY RELEASE WHEN ILLNESS WORSENED

- By DYLAN HAYWARD

THE prison service watchdog has raised concerns that staff at HMP Gartree failed to resubmit a compassionate release request for a murderer despite his rapidly deteriorating health.

Michael Tate, 83, died of lung cancer at a hospice on February 6, 2025.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found that another application for his early release on compassionate grounds was not submitted when his condition worsened in December 2024.

The watchdog also said no consideration was given to granting Tate release on temporary licence when he was admitted to a hospice in December.

He had been serving a life sentence with a minimum of 13 years for the murder of his wife Margaret at their Scunthorpe home.